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Abstract
Background: Breast cancer and its treatment can produce substantial physical and psychospiritual distress. Katharine Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory provides a framework for identifying multidimensional comfort needs and guiding individualized nursing interventions.
Methods: This descriptive clinical case study applied Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory to a 37-year-old woman with stage III breast cancer receiving her third cycle of chemotherapy following mastectomy. Patient needs were assessed across physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental contexts and categorized according to relief, ease, and transcendence.
Results: The case demonstrated unmet comfort needs related to chemotherapy-induced nausea, fatigue, anorexia, insomnia, hair loss, altered body image, emotional distress, hopelessness, fear of death, and reluctance to continue treatment. Theory-based nursing interventions were identified to address symptom management, nutritional and sleep needs, emotional support, body-image concerns, coping, patient education, family involvement, and treatment-related decision-making.
Conclusion: Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory provides a structured and holistic framework for identifying and addressing multidimensional comfort needs in oncology nursing. Theory-based interventions may support coping, quality of life, and engagement in health-seeking behaviors. Further clinical studies are required to evaluate measurable outcomes of comfort-focused nursing interventions.